In the end, fudge won. After an intensive two-week session enduring ‘chateau fever’, and some serious last-minute tension, Serbian and Albanian negotiating parties at the Kosovo talks in France came to a "provisional understanding" on the outlines of a de
Kosovo Albanians didn't get independence, NATO troops or peace. Fresh political splits have emerged, and fears of new bloodshed is high. But the returning delegates laid out a strong case that one more conference will bring results.
The KLA balked in hopes of returning with a stronger political - and military - hand at the followup talks in March. They are still holding out for independence, but risk losing Western support for NATO troops.
Belgrade’s victory was little more than the combined failure of the Contact Group and the KLA. But Milosevic will continue to exploit internal frictions among both to undermine the peace process.
General Blaskic, charged as the HVO commander in Central Bosnia with 20 counts of crimes against humanity, apologised for the fact that he was unable to prevent massacres in and around the village of Ahmici.
BBC war reporter turned politician Martin Bell MP, testifies on behalf of General Tihomir Blaskic who also took to the stand last week as the 145th witness in this marathon trial.
The new governing coalition and the lame-duck presidential administration in Macedonia have settled into open warfare, and recent provocations over Kosovo and other issues led by President Gligorov risk opening serious rifts between Macedonian and Albania
Pristina hopes for a settlement. But scepticism over the West’s inconsistency and fear of the Serbs’ arrogant behaviour ensure that no one in Kosovo will be surprised if the talks end in failure.
The visit of Serbian leader Milan Milutinovic to the Paris talks has been widely reported as an opportunity to reiterate hard-line positions. But whatever the outcome, Milosevic’s puppet actually helped the talks overcome some key initial obstacles.
